The Court of the Gentiles, Discourse · Part 1 · Book 2 · Chapter 3

The Court of the Gentiles · Discourse · Part 1 · Book 2 · Chapter 3

p. 128CHAP. III. The Theogonie of Bacchus fromſacred or Hebrew Names, and Traditions.

The ſeveral Ages after the Floud. Bacchus from foreign bar chus. Iacchus from foreign Iah-chus. Dionyſus from Exo. 17.15. Jehova Niſſi. Zagreus from Gen. 10.9. Dithyrambus, Briſaeus, Adonis, Eleleus, Sabus, of Hebrew origination. The Theogonie of Bacchus. His parallel with Moſes in 17 particulars. Bacchus's parallel with Nimrod drawn from his name Bacchus, i.e. Barchus, the ſon of Chus, which was Nimrod: Nebrodes from Nimrod. Zagreus, Belus, Liber, &c. Fables touching Bacchus of ſacred original. Bacchus's being borne out of Iupiters Thigh, from Gen. 46.26. Bacchus's Wine the bloud of Grapes, from Gen. 49.11. Deut. 32.14. Bacchus's Ark &c. p. 129from 1 Sam. 6.19. Bacchus's expedition into the Eaſt, an imitation of the Iſraelites paſsage to Canaan. Bacchus's companion, Silenus, from Silo, Gen. 49.10,11,12. and Pan from the Shepherd of Iſrael. The Bacchae their lamentation from Prov. 23.29. &c.

§. 1. The ſeveral Ages after the Floud.THe foreign, or Generation of the Gods, may be reduced to the ſundry Ages after the Floud, whereof the Poets made four. The firſt they called the golden Age, wherein Saturne reigned, Righteouſneſſe and Peace flouriſhed, and all things were enjoyed in common; which Bochart Phaleg. lib. 4. cap. 12. refers to the firſt hundred years after the Floud, even unto Phalegs birth. 2. Then follows the Silver Age, wherein Jupiter reigned, and men began to divide the Earth, to till the ground, to build houſes, according to that of the Poet, Tum primùm ſubiere domos &c. namely in this Age began the ſtructure, not onelyonly of private habitations, but alſo of that vaſt, impious Fabrick, the Tower of Babel: whence followed, 3. The Brazen Age, wherein ſprang up Nimrod, who proved firſt an Hunter, and then a Warrier, or mighty Tyrant; who converting his deſignes from Beaſts to Men, by Tyrannie erected an Empire: as Virg. Georg. 1.

Tum laque is captare feras, & fallere viſco,

Juventum, & magnos canibus circundare ſaltus.

Bacchus his Names and Attributes from ſacred Traditions.Now in this Age flouriſhed Bacchus, who is ſuppoſed by the Mythologiſts to be the ſon of Jupiter, but by Bochart to be the ſame with Nimrod; though ſome refer him to Noah, and others to Moſes; as hereafter. And here, in proſecution of our undertaking, we ſhall endeavor to demonſtrate, that the many fabulous narrations of Bacchus, his Names, and Attributes, were but corrupt and broken imitations of Jewiſh Names and Traditions. Thus Sandford de deſcenſu lib. 1. §. 17. where having atteſted, that the names of Bacchus, Iacchus, Euvius, Adonis, and Sabus, were of ſacred or Hebrew origination, he ſhews, how thoſe acclamations p. 130Hie and Euvion made to Bacchus, were certain names of Jehova, Whereby the Ancients in their ſolemne feaſts, called upon the true God; but in following times, vice abounding, theſe ſacred Titles were given to their Idol Gods. Whence he concludes thus. Hence the Thebans, Colonie of the Sidonians, to whom the Religion of the Jews (their neighbors) was known, being willing that their Citizen, the ſon of Semeles ſhould be inſerted into the number of their Gods, they thought it moſt adviſed, to traduce, not only Acclamations, and Names, but alſo feſtival daies, and Ceremonies, and things done, from the Hiſtories of the Jews. Therefore we ſee that thoſe things which are commemorated in the ſacred Scripture, as moſt worthy to be known by the Worſhippers of Jehova, are many of them, albeit confuſed, and detorted unto a fable, transferred on Bacchus. Therefore Lactantius had what we would, when he truely ſaid: that thoſe things which the Poets ſpake were true, but diſguiſed or veiled over with apparence or ſhadow. Which apparence has place eſpecially in the names of the Gods; which he ſhews; ſaying: That the lies of the Poets were not in the Fact, but in the Name. And truely he cals thoſe lies, which oft are feigned in the Name; whereas they well underſtood the fiction: yea the more c…nning Prieſts of the Gods underſtood the ſame, albeit they conceled it from the common people. Thus Sandford.

§. 2. 1. Bacchus from foreign the ſon of Chus.We ſhall begin with Baechus his Names; and firſt with his chief Name Bacchus, which (as Bochart obſerves) is evidently derived from the Hebrew foreign Bar-chus, the ſon of Chus i:e: Nimrod, whence thoſe foreign in Bacchus's garment, as alſo in his chariot foreign i.e. Tigres; which are alluſions to the name Nimrod, or Nebrodes: as §. 4. 2. Iacchus from Jah Chus.2. As for his Greek name foreign it ſeems identick, or the ſame with the Hebrew foreign jachus i.e. Jah the ſon of Chus. Thence alſo in the Oracle of Clarius Apollo, the name Iao is attributed to Bacchus; whence ſome derive the name Io bacchus i.e. the God Bacchus. Now that p. 131Iah and Iao are but contracts of Gods eſſential name foreign we have already proved ch. 1. §. 8. of this Book: of which more hereafter. Alſo Iacchus, according to the Syriack is foreign or foreign Iacco, i:e: a child ſucking: the letter …lying hid in Daghes. Whence that of Orpheus foreign the child Iacchus. 3. Dionyſus from Exod. 17.15. Jehova Niſſi.Exod 17:153. Bacchus, from the place of his education, was called Dionyſus; ſo Plutarch makes mention of the flight foreign of Dionyſus. This name Bochart (Canaan praef.) fetcheth from Ezod. 17.15. Iehova Niſſi. Concerning Nyſa the Citie ſacred to Bacchus, Homer, being taught by the Phenicians, writes thus, in his hymne of Bacchus

foreign

foreign

Namely, Nyſa or Nyſſa is a mountain in Arabia, near Egypt where is extant this Inſcription of Moſes Exod. 17.15. foreign Iehovah N…ſſi i.e: the Lord is my Banner. In hac Arabica India, quam Moſes incoluit primo, poſtea perluſtravit, omnia illa Bacchi loca nullo negotio inveniemus. Sandf. Deſcenſ. l. 1. §. 18.But the Phenicians interpret it, the God Niſaeus, and the Grecians foreign; as if the name ſprang from the mountain Niſa. So Bochart. Others derive Bacchus's name Dionyſus from the mountain Nyſa, which, by a tranſpoſition of the letters, they make to be the ſame with Syna. Thus Sandford de Deſcenſu l. 1. §. 18. This Nyſa, of which there is ſo much mention in the Hiſtorie of Bacchus, is of all moſt famous; namely, becauſe from Nyſa he was called Dionyſus. But what the Poets call the Nyſa of Bacchus, is with us no other than Moſes's Syna: for by the artifice of anagrammatiſme, Syna is made Nyſa; as the very teſtimonie of our ſenſes prove. And the very ſituation accords. For albeit ſome later Geographers ſeek for Nyſa among the Indians, yet the moſt ancient fixe it in the proper place; ſo as it agrees well with the ſacred Hiſtorie (touching Syna). So Herodotus placeth Nyſſa above Egypt; and Diodorus Siculus lib. 4. 'twixt Egypt and Phaenicia. 4. Bacchus was alſo called foreign Attes, according to that of the Rhodian Oracle.

Magnum Atten placate Deum; qui caſtus Adonis,

p. 132Evius eſt largitor opum, pulcher Dionyſus.

Attes. Hues.What the proper import of this name was, the Grecians know not: ſo Euſtath. Odyſſ. (p 592.23.) foreign. It is not for us to find out the origine of Atta. neither has it any Interpretation. But what they knew not, the Hebrews well underſtood. For (as Sandford de deſcenſu Chriſti l. 1. §. 15.) Atta, as all know, is the ſame with the Hebrew foreign atta Thou, which the Scripture oft applies to God, as Pſ. 90.1, Thou Lord. Whence alſo the Grecians added to Attes, Hues. So Demoſthenes Hues Attes, Attes Hues. This Hues Sandford makes to be the ſame with Jehovah, and ſo Attes Hues to be no other than foreign atta Jehovah, Thou Lord; which often occurs in the Pſalmes of David, and was thence traduced by the Grecians, and applied to their Idol Bacchus. Bochart Can. l. 1. c. 18. derives foreign from foreign Hues, thou art fire, Deut. 4.24.Deut 4:24Deut. 4 24. 5. Zagreus.5. Bacchus was ſtiled likewiſe foreign Zagreus. i.e. a mighty Hunter, from the character given unto Nimrod Gen. 10.9.Gen 10:9Gen. 10.9, where 'tis ſaid he was a mighty hunter before the Lord &c. as hereafter §. 4. 6. Liber.6 Bacchus was alſo called Liber, according to the proper import of the Hebrew, foreign Horim, which ſignifies Princes, i.e. free men; whence the name Heroes &c. of which alſo hereafter §. 4. 7. Thriambus Lychirambus Dithyrambus.7. The names Thriambus, Lythirambus, and Dithyrambus given to Bacchus, are one & the ſame, though variouſly inflexed; which the Syrians expreſſe by foreign dithere abhan, which ſignifies foreign from the fiction of Bacchus's being twice borne, as hereafter. 8. Briſaeus.8. Bacchus was alſo called Briſaeus, from foreign briz doubſa, that is, a lake of honey; from the Fable, of his travelling through a land of Honey, which refers to Canaan. 9. Jao.9. Several other proper names of God were given unto Bacchus as ja, jao, whence Jo Bacchus from foreign and foreign. That Jao is the ſame with foreign or foreign, is made evident by Sanfordus de Deſcenſ, l. 1. §. 10. It appears, ſaies he, that the Tetragrammon, or four lettered Name Jehovah, was known not only by the ſound, but alſo, by its Countrey p. 133and origination; for they pronounced it Jao, and, as Hebrew, interpreted it out of the Hebraicks. — Then he addes §. 11. that Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Euſebius, Epiphanius, and Theodoret, make Iao to be the ſame with Jehovah Gods eſſential name. See what follows c. 8. §. 11. Heinſius Ariſtarcho. S. cap. 1. and Glaſſius (after him) Grammat. S. lib. 4. tract. 3. obſerv. 5. tel us, that Bacchus was ſtiled Iacchus, from foreign Gods name. Eleleu Hie, eſt inſiſſimum Hebraeorum Hallelujah. Sanford de deſcenſu Ch. l. 1. §. 5.And from Hallelujah ſprang that famous Greek acclamation to Bacchus, foreign; which was tranſlated (from the Jewiſh Church) by the enemy of mankind, for a contumelie of the Divine name. 10. Adonis.10. Bacchus was called alſo Adonts, and Adoneus, from foreign Adonai. That Adonis received its origination from foreign Adonai, God's name, Sandford de deſcenſu Chriſti l. 1. §. 9 proves thus: That Adonis deſcended from Adonai, is ſufficiently proved by the teſtimonie of our ſenſes, (viz. eyes and ears.) This Adonai had among the Hebrews a vicarious power in the place of Jehovah: — for its very probable, that the Hebrews abſtained from ſounding the ſacred name Jehovah, when they perceived it was traduced by the Gentiles, to ſignifie their Idols. The like he affirmes of Adonis §. 15. 11. Eleleus.11. Bacchus was alſo ſtiled Eleleus, from foreign: El eloah. 12. Evius.12. Evius, from foreign: 13. Sabus.and 13. Sabus, from foreign Sabaoth: (as Plutarch. Sympoſ. 4.) Heinſius, Ariſtarcho S. cap. 1. makes Sabus or Sabaſius, Bacchus's name among the Greeks, to be derived from foreign, to drink down full draughts of Wine: ſo Bochart; but Sandford derives it from foreign. See Sanford, de deſcenſ. Chr. l. 1. §. 13, 14. All theſe being names peculiar to the holy God, were, by a blaſphemous imitation applied to this Idol God, Bacchus.

§. 3. But to paſſe on to Bacchus's Geuealogie; firſt, ſome there are who refer the original of Bacchus to Noah; and that not without ſome ſeeming likelihood, which may be drawen 1. from their cognation in name: Bacchus or Boachus, having much the ſame ſound with Noachus, though this is not of much weight. 2 Bacchus is ſaid to be the firſt inventor of Wine, which p. 134exactly anſwers to the character the Scripture gives of Noah, that he firſt planted Vines &c. Gen. 20,21.

But the chief conteſt amongſt the Learned, is concerning Moſes and Nimrod; to which of theſe two Bacchus owes his original. Voſſius refers him to Moſes; Bochart to Nimred. I conceive we may take in both, without any contradiction. For tis evident, that thoſe blind Mythologiſts, who brought in theſe Genealogies of the Gods, were not ſo diſtinct and uniforme in the application of their oriental broken Traditions, as to keep cloſe to Perſons; but admitted a very great latitude herein; ſome applying their ſtories to one perſon, ſome to another; ſome a piece to one, and a piece to another, as they affected. Thus ſome referred the ſtories of Nimrod, others thoſe of Moſes, to their Idol Bacchus. Bacchus the ſame with Moſes.We ſhall begin with thoſe who make Bacchus originally the ſame with Moſes. So Sandfordus de deſcenſu Chriſti ad inferos lib. 1. Sect. 17.18.19. Whoever ſhall examine all the Reaſons of Truth in this Theologie of Bacchus, will find that the true Bacchus was Moſes, or the true God of Moſes: and that thoſe things which are chiefly mentioned of Bacchus, are onelyonly fabulouſly to be referred to the Theban Bacchus, or alſo to Oſiris, whom (according to Herodotus) the Egyptians affirme to be Bacchus. So Owen Theol. l. 1. c. 8. Voſſ. Idol l. 1. c. 30. by whom we find an exact parallel drawen 'twixt Bacchus and Moſes in theſe particulars. Pergit Orpheus Bacchi ſui natalis eum in modū celebrare, ut Baccho inſanior ſit oportet, qui non videat, eum Meſis potius incunabula, quàm alterius cujuſpiam, depingenda ſuſcepiſſe. Sandfordus de deſcenſu Chriſti lib. 1. §. 18.1. As Moſes, ſo Bacchus was feigned to have been borne in Aegypt. 2. Orpheus cals Bacchus foreign, a name of the ſame origination with Moſes. So Sandfordus de deſcenſu Chriſti l. 1. §. 18. There is extant in Orpheus a Hymne, wherein he celebrates Miſes; whom in the firſt verſe he ſtiles Dionyſus, and in the third Iacchus. Now Miſes differs not from Moſes ſave in punctuation &c. 3. Bacchus is ſaid to have been ſhut up in an Ark, and impoſed on the waters; as Moſes was. Thus Sandford de deſcenſu Chriſti lib. 1. §. 18. Moſes's Ark, as alſo his danger in the waters, and deliverance thence, was known to divers Nations, albeit by ſeveral, variouſly, and that moſt fabulouſly, detorted p. 135unto Bacchus &c. 4. Bacchus is made to be beautiful in forme, and foreign, one that had two Mothers; as Moſes. Thus alſo Sandford de deſcenſu Chr: l. 1. §. 18, Moſes's Adoption was alſo known: therefore the Poets fable Bacchus to be Bimatrem, double mothered, which they call Iſidas. The Egyptians (ſaith Plutarch) affirme, that Iſis, with a penſive mind, and weeping, was, by the maids, brought to the Queen, and thence made familiar, as alſo appointed, by the Queen, to nurſe the child. Moreover, Moſes's eximious beauty was well known: for when the Poets ſay that Bacchus was moſt beautiful; whom do they paint forth but Moſes? 5. Plutarch makes mention of foreign, the flights of Bacchus; which anſwers to Moſes's flying from Egypt, as Stillingf. origin. S. book 3. c. 5. §. 11. So Sandford de Deſcenſ. l. 1. §. 18. The Baniſhment of Moſes was known, whence Plutarch (de Iſide) ſaies, that Bacchus's baniſhment was a common ſong among the Grecians. Alſo Moſes's flight was a matter of common fame; unto which Bacchus's flight, ſo much celebrated by the Poets, refers, as every one ought to acknowledge: eſpecially ſeeing thoſe things, which they mention of Bacchus's flight towards the red Sea, can be underſtood of none but Moſes. 6. Bacchus is ſaid to be educated in a mount of Arabia, called Nyſa; according to that of Moſes, who reſided there 40 years. 7. Bacchus was hence called foreign Dionyſus, which (as Bochart Can. lib. 1. cap. 18.) anſwers exactly to the inſcription of Moſes, on the Altar by him erected, Exod. 17.15.Exod 17:15Exod. 7.15. foreign Jehova Niſſi: which Poſteritie interpreted, the God Neſsaeus, i.e. in Greek foreign Dionyſus. 8. Amongſt the myſteries or Bacchus, Serpents are reckoned; which anſwers to Moſes's brazen Serpent. So Sandf. Deſ. l. 1. §. 18. Moſes, at the command of God in the deſert of Arabia, made a Brazen Serpent; according to the image whereof, it was ſaid, that a Serpent was in uſe among the ſacreds of Bacchus, as Nonnus atteſts. 9. Bacchus is ſaid to have a Dogge for his companion; which anſwers to Caleb, Moſes's companion, whoſe name ſignifies a Dogge. So Sandf. l. 1. §. 19. Caleb, who in Hebrew p. 136ſounds a Dogge, gave riſe to that fable of Bacchus's dogge, which alone followed him wandring on the mountains. 10. Bacchus was famous for his paſſing the red Sea, and wars; eſpecially for that he had women in his Army; as Moſes, in his march towards Canaan. So Sandford de deſcenſ. l. 1. §. 18. Moſes's expeditions are well known: for hence it is that Diodorus Siculus, lib. 1. memorates eſpecially two expeditions of Oſiris (the Egyptian Bacchus,) the one into Aethiopia, the other into Arabia through the red Sea. 11. In Euripides, the Bacchae are ſaid to draw water out of a Rock, having ſtruck it with their Rod; and where ever they went, the Land flowed with wine, milk, and honey. Moſes percuſſa rupe aquas elicuit: quid aliud ſonant à Theatro, illa Euripidis in Bacchis: virga quis arreptaferit rupem, ſtatim exultat inde roſſidus fontis liquor. Sand. deſcenſ. l. 1. §. 19.The firſt part of this fable anſwers to Moſes's ſtriking the Rock, whence guſhed forth waters: the later part anſwers to the deſcription of Canaan, which is ſaid to flow with milk and honey. Exod. 3.8,17. and 13.5. and 33.3. &c. Whence Bacchus was called Briſaeus, i.e. foreign a lake of honey. 12. Orpheus cals Bacchus foreign, i.e. the Legiſlator; and ſo attributes to him foreign, as it were, two Tables of Laws, in imitation of Moſes, Ezod. 34.20. 13. Bacchus was alſo called bicornis, two-horned; as Moſes is uſually pictured, from the miſtake of that text Exod. 34.29. the skin of his face ſhone. To which we may adde what is mentioned in Nonnus's Dionyſiacis, that Bacchus having touched the rivers Orontes and Hydaſpes with his rod, and dried them up, he paſſed over; and his ſtaffe being caſt on the ground, it began to creep as a Serpent, and to wind it ſelf about an Oak. Again, that the Indians continued in darkneſſe, whilſt the Baechae enjoyed the Light. All which exactly anſwer to the ſtorre of Moſes, as face to face in a glaſſe. 15. Farther, Moſes learned on Mount Sinai the Rites of Sacrifices, and thence taught them to the people: The ſame is ſung of Bacchus by Ovid. Faſt.

Ante tuos ortus arae ſine honore fuere.

16. Again, Moſes was the firſt that brought in ſacred Muſick: thus in like manner Strabo lib. 10.453. informes us, that the p. 137Bacchick Muſick was famous throughout Aſia; and that many muſick Inſtruments had obteined a Barbarick name, as Jambla, Sambuke, Barbitos, Magades, &c. which ſeem all to be of Hebrew origination. 17. Moreover Moſes, with the Princes of the Tribes, (who are for Honor ſake ſtiled in Scripture the ſons of Joſeph) took the bones of Joſeph, and carried them to Canaan, Exod. 13.19. whence ſprang the old Poets fable of Oſiris's bones, and of his ſons, &c. For the ancient Oſiris, whom Pan nouriſhed, was Joſeph, as Sandford will have it. 18. Laſtly, we find a fabulous mention of Bacchus's Maira, who is referred and ſeated among the Stars. This Maira, Sandford, by an eaſie Anagrapſis, reſolves into Maria, or Miriam, who was Siſter to Moſes and Aaron. Thus Sandford and Voſſius ſhew, in many inſtances, how the whole ſtorie of Moſes was tranſlated to Bacchus. And Bochart himſelf grants, that theſe many parallels could not but be borrowed from ſacred ſtorie; though he addes, Yet I cannot collect, with this great man (Voſſius,) that Moſes was the Phenician, and Egyptian Bacchus. For tis not likely, that a perſon ſo much hated by theſe Nations, ſhould be worſhipt by them as a benigne God. OnelyOnly, I think, theſe Mythologiſts alluded to the ſtorie of Moſes; as in the fable of Silenus, to the Prophecie of Silo. And truely not onelyonly the ſtories of Moſes, but of others alſo, lie hid in the Mythologicks of Bacchus: Thus Bochart Canaan lib. 1. cap. 18. fol. 486. which leads us to the following genealogie of Bacchus.

§. 4. Bacchus the ſame with Nimrod.Though many pieces of Moſes's ſtorie and character are applied to Bacchus, yet, I conceive (with learned Bochart) that the chief Prototype, or original Idea, according to which Bacchus's picture was drawn, was Nimrod. This may be demonſtrated 1 Bacchus the ſame with Barchus.1. from the very name Bacchus, which ſeems the ſame with foreign Barchus, the ſon of Chus; as alſo from the Greek foreign, the ſame with foreign Jah of Chus. Thus Bochart Phaleg lib. 1. cap. 2. Now who ſees not, that Nimrod was Bacchus? for Bacchus is the ſame with foreign bar-chus, i.e. the ſon of Chus. p. 138Barchus and Bacchus are the ſame, as foreign Darmeſek, and foreign Dammeſek for Damaſcus. Thus much the Grecians themſelves tacitely hint to us. 1 By making Bacchus to be the ſon of Jupiter, as Chus, the father of Nimrod, was the ſon of Cham, who paſt among them for Jupiter, as before. 2. By conſecrating unto Bacchus, amongſt the birds foreign the Pie, and amongſt the Plants, foreign the Ivy; becauſe he was foreign Ciſsius, Hebr. foreign a Chuſean, or ſon of Chus; as Nimrod was. 2 Nebrodes the ſame with Nimrod.2. This is likewiſe evident from Bacchus's other name foreign Nebrodes, which Bochart makes to be a derivative from Nimrod, and this from foreign Marad, to rebel. It is true, ſome ſuppoſe that Bacchus was called Nebrodes, from that Exuvium hinnuleum, which he, and his Bacchantes were wont to wear: for, ſay they, this foreign properly imports. But I ſhould rather think, and ſay, (as before §. 2.) that Bacchus wore theſe foreign, as alſo that he had in his Chariot foreign Tigers, in alluſion to his original name foreign, or Nimrod. So Bochart Phaleg lib. 1. cap. 2. The name alludes to foreign Nimra. The Chaldeans call a Tiger ſo. Thence Tigers in Bacchus's Chariot. foreign Hinnuli pellis, exuvium hinnnuleum quod Bacchus & Bacchantes geſtare ſolebant. Bacchus foreign vocari dicitur, quod Bacchantes hinnulorum pellihus uterentur. Stephan. in foreign.Others rather derive the name from foreign Nebris, and call Bacchus Nebrodes. So Anthol. lib. 1. c. 38. Epigr. 1.

foreign

as if he were clothed with an Hinnulean skin; being ignorant that this is the very name of Nimrod among the Grecians. See the LXX, Joſephus, and others. Thus Bochart derives Bacchus his name Nebrodes from Nimrod, and this from foreign Marad, to rebel. Whence this name Nimrod ſeems to be given unto him, either Prophetically, or elſe eventually, after he had rebelled againſt his Anceſtor Noah; and uſurped an univerſal Empire over his brethren. 3. Zagreus.Hence, 3. he is ſtiled Gen. 10.9.Gen 10:9Gen. 10.9. a mighty Hunter before the Lord, i.e. moſt potent, as Jon. 3.3. Act. 7.20. Luk. 1.6. proportionably whereto, Bacchus is alſo ſtiled foreign a Hunter: and what is ſaid of Jupiter, that he expelled his father Saturne, i.e. Noah, from his Kingdom, Bochart applies to Bacchus or Nimrod, who, by reaſon of his rebellious uſurpation, was called Nimrod; p. 1394. Belus.and 4. by reaſon of the extent of his Dominion he was ſtiled Belus. For that Belus, the Head of the Aſſyrian Monarchie, was the ſame with Nimrod (who had the firſt name given him from his Dominion, and the later from his Rebellion) is proved by Bochart, (in his Phaleg: lib. 4. cap. 14. fol: 264.) only the name Nimrod, in ſo much as it was contumelious and odious, was obliterated; and that of Belus only retained by the chaldeans. 5. Liber.5. To this name Belus, anſwers that of Liber, given to Bacchus, which Bochart makes the the ſame for import, with foreign Horim, liberi free men or Princes; which is given to the Babylonian Princes Eſa. 34.12. where the Chaldee reads it foreign bene herin ſons of liberi, or Heroes, Heroes.For thence the name Heroes was derived. Whence Methodius cals Nimrod foreign the brother of the Heroes, i:e: in effect Liber, a Prince. 6. Staphylus Bacchus's ſon the ſame with Ninus.6. The Greek Mythologiſts themſelves, though they are ambitious of vindicating Bacchus for their countrey man, yet they acknowledge that Staphylus his ſon and Succeſsor was King of Aſsyria; which is as much as if they had ſaid, that Bacchus reigned in Aſsyria. Yea in the Epitaph of Ninus, Nimrods ſon and ſucceſsor, there is mention made of the Bacchae; as Athenae lib: 12.7. Bacchus is ſaid to be be the God of Wine; becauſe Nimrod was the firſt that ruled over Babylon, where that moſt excellent Wine, celebrated ſo much among the Poets under the name of Nectar, was found. So Athenaeus Deipnoſ: l, 1. Chaereas (ſaith he) reports that there was a wine in Babylon which the Natives call Nectar: Owen Theolog. l. 3. c. 8.which they called alſo the drink of the Gods, &c. 8. Laſtly the expeditions of Bacchus into the Eaſt, even unto India, ſeem evident References unto Nimrod and his ſucceſſors Atchievements in thoſe parts, as Bochart Phaleg, l. 1: c. 2. That Bacchus was the ſame with Nimrod; and that the whole of his worſhip was tranſported, out of the oriental parts into Greece, by the Phenicians, ſee Bochart Can: lib. 1. cap. 18.

§. 5. Grecian fables touching Bacchus of ſacred original.But we proceed to give inſtances of many Fables attributed to Bacchus, which were originally Traditions from ſacred p. 140Scripture, Gen. 46.26. Bacchus borne of Jupiters thigh.Gen 46:26as 1. That Fable, of Bacchus's being borne out of Jupiters thigh: which Bochart (Can. lib. 1. cap. 18.) makes to be but a miſtaken Tradition from Gen. 46.26. Bacchus (ſaies he) is feigned to have been borne out of Jupiters thigh; becauſe the Phenicians underſtand foreign and foreign, which properly ſignifie the thigh, of the verenda; whence that common ſaying in Scripture, to proceed out of the thigh of the Father, as Gen. 46.26. Exod. 1.5. &c. So Voſſius de Idololatr: lib. 1. cap. 19. more largely. Gen. 49.11. The bloud of the grape. Deut. 32.14.Gen 49:11Deut 32:142. In the Tyrian Fable of Bacchus and Icarus, Wine is ſaid to be the bloud of the Grapes; which is an Idiom purely Hebrew; ſo foreign, is uſed by Jacob Gen. 49.11. and by Moſes Deut. 32.14. Where the Greeks render it foreign, as Bochart Can. lib. 1. c. 18. Bacchus's Ark from 1 Sam. 6.…9.1 Sam 6:93. Pauſanias, in Achaicis, makes mention of a Fable, touching the Greeks finding at Troy, foreign an Ark conſecrated to Bacchus; which when Eurypilus had opened, and beheld the ſtatue of Bacchus hid therein, he was preſently, at the very ſight thereof, deprived of his ſenſes. 1 Sam. 6.19.1 Sam 6:19This, ſaies Bochart (Can. lib. 1. cap. 18.) was taken from 1 Sam. 6.19. where 'tis ſaid, that God therefore ſtruck the Betſemites, becauſe they pryed into his Ark &c. 1 Sam. 6.4,5.1 Sam 6:41 Sam 6:54. There is another Grecian Fable of Bacchus's being angry with the Athenians, becauſe they diſhonored his Sacreds, neither received them with that ſolemnitie, when they were firſt brought from Boeotia, unto Attica, by Pegaſus: wherefore he afflicted them with a grievous diſeaſe in their privy parts; from which they could find no remedie, until, being admoniſhed by the Oracle, they yielded themſelves more obſequious to the God; and erected Phallos i:e: certain Images of thoſe privy parts he had afflicted, for his honor. An egge is not more like unto an egge, (ſaies Bochart Can: lib. 1. cap. 18.) than this Comment to the Hiſtorie of the Philiſtines; who, when God brought upon them the Haemorrhoides, for their unworthy treatment given the Ark, upon conſulting their Oracle, were anſwered; that they could not be otherwiſe cured, than by conſecrating golden Images of the Hamorrhoides p. 141to God; which accordingly they did &c. 1 Sam. 5.9. 1 Sam. 6.4.5. 5. There is another Fable, of Bacchus's attaining unto Immortalitie &c. which is evidently a corrupt imitation of the Scripture account of God. So Sandford de Deſcenſu Chriſti lib. 1. cap. 17. We need no way doubt but that belongs to the Great God, which Diodorus Siculus lib: 3. relates of Bacchus, namely, that among all the Gods Dionyſus onelyonly attained to a fixed immortalitie. To which we might adde that of Diodorus lib. 1. and Strabo lib. 17. who affirme, that Oſiris (who was the Egyptian Bacchus) his ſepulchre was unknown to the Egyptians; which, ſaies Sandford (lib. 1. §. 21.) anſwers to what is ſaid of Moſes, Deut. 34.6.Deut 34:6Deut. 34.6. But no man knows of his ſepulchre unto this day.

§. 6. Bacchus his expeditions into the Eaſt.The whole fabulous ſtorie of Bacchus's expedition into the Eaſt, ſeems evidently no other than a corrupt imitation of the Iſrae ites paſſage unto Canaan under Moſes and Joſhua; as it may appear by theſe particulars. 1 Bacchus his companion Silenus, the ſame with Silo, mentioned Gen. 49:10,11,12.Gen 49:10Gen 49:11Gen 49:121. Bacchus is ſaid to have for his companion Silenus; which fable (as Bochart makes it very plain) owes its original to the Prophecie of Silo, Gen. 49.10. This alſo Juſtin Martyr long ſince obſerved; ſhewing, how the Devils horridly wreſted this Prophecie, to eſtabliſh the myſteries of Bacchus. 1. To begin with the name Silenus; it ſeems apparently the ſame originally with the Heb. foreign Silan; and this the ſame with foreign Silo, the name of the Meſsias, the Angel or meſſenger, ſent by God to conduct Moſes and the Iſraelites unto Canaan. 2. Hence the Greeks make Silenus to be Bacchus's foreign praecepter or inſtructor; as Moſes was inſtructed by Silo, (or the Angel,) who is ſaid to be the Lawgiver and Inſtructor of the people, Gen. 49.10. 3. Thence they make Silenus to be imployed in treading out the Grapes: which anſwers to Silo his character Gen. 49.11. and his clothes in the bloud of Grapes. 4. They make Silenus to be alwaies drunk with wine, and to feed on milk: which fully agrees with what is prophecied of Silo, Gen. 49.11. his eyes ſhall be red with wine, and his p. 142teeth white with milk. But of this more hereafter. Pan another of Bacchus his companions.2. Another of Bacchus's companions was Pan; who is reckoned amongſt one of his chief Commanders, &c. That this fable is alſo of Jewiſh original, ſeems evident 1. from the very name Pan, which, in the Hebrew foreign Pan, ſignifies one that ſtands aſtoniſht, or ſtupified with fears, whence Pan is fabled to ſend Pannick fears, which gave riſe to that proverbial ſpeech, Pannick fear. 2. Pan is made the God of Shepherds: which fable evidently ſprang from that character of the Meſſias, who is ſtiled frequently the Shepherd of Iſrael; as hereafter.

§. 7. The Bacchae their lamentation.Bacchus is fabled to have women in his Army, which were called Bacchae, and Thyades, and Mimallonides, &c. 1. Theſe Bacchae were Propheteſses of Bacchus, ſo called, as ſome think, from foreign to lament, according to that, Ezech. 8.14.Ezek 8:14Ezech. 8.14. foreign Mebaccoth, weeping for Tamuz; for tis certain, that the ſacreds of Bacchus were performed with much lamentation and houling. Heinſius, Ariſtarcho cap. 1. deduceth the Bacchae (as Bacchus) from foreign ululari, to houl, or lament; which word Virgil Aen. 7. uſeth of the Bacchae.

Aſt aliae tremulis ululatibus aethera complent,

Pampineaſque gerunt incinctae pellibus haſtas.

Alſo he ſhews, that the lamenting exclamation foreign, uſed by the Bacchae, flows from the Hebr. foreign heu eheu. Prov. 23.29,30Prov 23:29Prov 23:30So in Prov. 23.29,30. foreign vae, is uſed for immoderate drinking of Wine. Druſius, lib. 1. Animad. cap. 33. derives the Bacchae's foreign from foreign, anſwerable to the Syriack foreign a Serpent, Ezech. 8.14. The women which celebrated Thamuz, or Adonis, whom the Greeks make the ſame with Bacchus, are ſaid to be foreign weeping; from foreign, i.e. Bacchae, or, according to the Greek, foreign. Whence it appears, that theſe ſacreds were firſt celebrated in the Eaſt, by theſe She prieſts of Bacchus. Thus Heinſius, and Glaſsius after him. Bochart (Can. lib. 1. cap. 18. fol. 480.) ſhews, how theſe Bacchae cried uſually Euoe; which he derives from Prov. 23.29,30. foreign Euoe, or vae! 2. Thence Bacchus's Thyades, the ſame Bochart derives from foreign to wander: becauſe, being p. 143overcome with wine, and fury, they wandred here and there. 3. And ſo Mimallonides, he draws from foreign Memallelan, pratlers; according to that Prov. 23.29,30. So Heinſius, in Ariſtarcho ſacro Cap. 1. ſuppoſeth, that Mimallonides, Bacchus's Prieſts, were ſo called from the noiſe and clamor they made. For foreign, with the Chaldeans, ſignifies pratlers, or garrulous perſons. Likewiſe Thyades, from foreign to wander, or Stray; which is uſed Eſa. 28.7. for drunkards. So that Thyades muſt be the ſame with foreign, ie. ſuch, as being touched with Wine, or furie, wander up and down: whence Euripides calls the Bacchick Prieſts foreign Erraticks, or wanderers, as Glaſſ. Gram. S. l. 4. Tract. 3. obſ. 5.Quae in ſacris literis de Jehovae cultoribus digniſſima cognitu commemorantur, eorum plera que vel confuſa, vel ad fabulam deflexa, in Bacchum licet congeſta videamus. Verè igitur Lanctantius: Mend acium Poetarum non eſt in facto, ſed in nomine. Sandford de deſcenſ. l. 1. §. 17.

§. 8. But I ſhall conclude this of Bacchus with that of Bochart (Can. lib. 1. cap. 18. fol. 486.) Theſe examples (ſaies he) ſhew, that in this fable of Bacchus there is more than enough, that every where alludes to the reſt of the Scripture: yet ſo, as that the moſt of theſe Fables were fetcht from the hiſtorie of Moſes, becauſe, when the Phenicians firſt came into Greece with Cadmus their Commander, the memorie of things done by Moſes was yet freſh. For Cadmus lived under Joſhuah, and was Captain of thoſe Phenicians, who, to ſave themſelves from imminent danger, betook themſelves to Sea, to ſearch out for other Countries. Thus we ſee how theſe Fables were conveyed into Greece.